Niche for in Vitro Generation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells from Pluripotent Stem Cells
Background
Bone marrow blood stem cell transplants are used in the treatment of leukemias and other diseases of the blood and immune system. Unfortunately, use of this therapy is limited for some patients due to lack of appropriate donors for stem cells or insufficient numbers of stem cells.
Project Goal
The goal of this research is to use lessons from embryonic development to re-engineer in the lab the environmental signals that are involved in creating new blood stem cells. We hope such efforts will lead to ways to create new sources of blood stem cells for patients and expand them outside of the body, in order to harvest the full potential of these cells to treat cancers and inherited blood diseases.
“Funding provided by Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation will be instrumental in allowing us to continue research into methods for blood stem cell generation and expansion with the goal of improving treatments for childhood leukemias and other blood diseases. We are incredibly grateful for the support of the Foundation and its dedication to improving the lives of children with cancer.” ~Brandon Hadland, MD, PhD
